Knifepoint robber writes letter of apology to shopkeeper

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A robber who brandished a carving knife at a London shopkeeper during a terrifying raid later sent a letter of apology to his victim.

Eamon McCluskey, who owns the family-run McCluskey’s in Wimbledon, said he feared for his life when Oluwatobi Ogunbanwo stormed into the shop, jumped over the counter and stole the till containing £60.

McCluskey’s mother walked in on the unfolding horror and rang 999.

Ogunbanwo, of Surrey Lane, Battersea, admitted four robberies and three attempted robberies across Merton and Wandsworth. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

But, in an unlikely conclusion, the assailant has put pen to paper and written a repenting letter to Mr McCluskey.

It reads: ‘Please let me express my heartfelt apologies in regards to the robbery that took place in your store.

‘A hardworking taxpayer like yourself deserves to be able to make a decent living without myself taking what is yours and has no business to do with me.

‘I apologise for any distress I caused your mother or yourself and for any further damaged caused. I genuinely had no intention to harm you in any way, but that is no excuse for my actions or for any fear I may have caused.

‘My mother works in a Tesco and I could only imagine how angry I would be if someone did that to her.

‘Both my actions and behaviour towards you were cruel and I sincerely apologise for that.’

‘My mum works at Tesco’: letter of apology from criminal who robbed shopkeeper (Picture: Cascade)

During an interview with the BBC, Mr McCluskey said he hopes the robber’s words ‘had come from the heart’.

‘It was interesting to see how he feels,’ said the shopkeeper.

‘Maybe with this time in prison he will have time to reflect on all the crimes that he’s done.’

Mr McCluskey said he feared for his life during the robbery (Picture: Cascade)